Shoe storage and transportation container



1957 G. THEBERGE ETAL 3,

SHOE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CONTAINER Filed May 28, 1965 United States Patent 3,300,038 SHOE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CONTAINER Germaine Theberge and Fernand Theberge, both of 202939 19th St. SW., Calgary, Alberta, Canada Filed May 28, 1965, Ser. No. 459,869 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-7) Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe travel and storage cases. The storage and transportation of several pairs of high heel shoes is difiicult, not only because of the shape of the shoe, but also because of the tendency of the shoe finish to become damaged.

It is common for a woman to possess a different pair of shoes for each dress so that it is quite likely that the number of pairs of shoes involved is considerable.

We have overcome this transportation and storage difiiculty by providing a travelling case within which the shoes may be suspended and cushioned thus not only permitting a large number of shoes to be contained in a relatively small space but also preventing damage occurring thereto.

Another object of our invention is to provide a d..- vice of the character herewithin described in which the shoes may be stored readily and easily even when not travelling.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the shoe storing portion thereof may readily be detached so that the case can be used for other purposes such as a hat box or the like.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, our invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of my device with the lid removed.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of my device.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of one of the shoes showing the method of suspension.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe our invention in detail, the shoe case is shown in the attached drawing as being cylindrical but, of course, if it is desired it could be oval, square or any other desired configuration.

The cylindrical case 10 consists of an outer cylindrical wall 11 and a base panel 12 and situated concentrically within the wall '11 is a plurality of cylindrical walls 13 and 14 all of which extend upwardly from the base to a point adjacent the upper edge 15 of the wall .11.

The inner surface of the wall 11 and both surfaces of the walls 13 and 14 are padded with resilient material 16 as also is the base 12, said material being secured in a conventional manner such as adhesive, staples or the like.

A cylindrical lid 17 is adapted to fit over the upper end 15 of the case 10 and the underside 18 of this lid is also padded as at 16 secured to the lid in a similar manner as *hereinabove described.

Situated around the annular channels 19 and 20 formed between the walls 11 and 13 and 14 respectively, is a plurality of shoe holding devices 21, each of the devices consisting of an endless length of elastic cord 22 held to the side walls by means of loops 23 or similar means. The arrangement of these elastic cords provides horizontal portions 24 and 25 situated one above the other and spanning the adjacent walls as clearly shown in FIGURE 2, and these horizontal portions are adapted to support the shoe 26 by means of the heel and sole as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. The sides 27 of the shoes are held by means of the resilient padding thus preventing sideways or back and forth movement of the shoes during transport. It will also be noted that when the shoes are placed in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the rear side 28 of the heel projects slightly above the upper end 15 of the box, so that when the lid 17 is placed in position, the padding 16 of the lid engages this portion of the shoe and forces it downwardly slightly, against tension of the elastic cords 24 and 25, thus holding the shoe firmly in position against vertical movement.

On the right hand side of FIGUREZ an alternative structure is shown for supporting the shoe, consisting of a fabric web 29 secured to the elastic cord 22, said fabric web having a heel engaging aperture 30 formed adjacent the top edge thereof which is adapted to receive the heel portion 31 of the shoe.

Although two annular channels 19 and 20 have been shown, nevertheless it will be appreciated that any number may be incorporated and the central well 32 [may be used for the storage of other articles as it is also padded.

Reference character 33 shown in FIGURE 1 illustrates a metal or plastic hook engaged by one end to the wall 11, the other end curving over to adjacent the padding 16. This permits the elastic cords 22 to be detachably held in position as an alternative to the loop 23. This permits the entire centre of the device to be unhooked and removed, the centre comprising the walls 13 and 14 together with the shoe holding devices. The container can then be used for other purposes such as a hat box or the like.

Since various modifications can be made in our invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made Within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A shoe storage and transportation container comprising in combination a substantially cylindrical outer enclosing wall and a base panel spanning said wall, at least one cylindrical inner wall concentrically situated within said container and extending upwardly from said base to adjacent the upper end of said outer wall, said outer wall and said inner wall defining a shoe carrying channel, a plurality of shoe hanging elements spanning said channel and a lid for said container, and padding material upon the inner surface of said outer wall, the outer surface of said inner wall, the inner surface of said base, and the inner surfiace of said lid.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said shoe hangin elements corn-prise an elasticized cord spanning said walls adjacent the upper ends thereof and adjacent the lower ends thereof engageable by the heel and sole of said shoes respectively.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said shoe hanging elements comprise a length of elastic cord secured to said walls and including a .pair of side lengths and upper and lower transverse lengths.

4. The device according to claim 3 which includes a Patented Jan. 24, 1967 web secured to said length of elasticized cord and spanning same, said web having a heel engaging aperture adjacent the upper transverse length of said elastic cord.

5. A shoe storage and transportation container cornprising in combination an outer enclosing wall and a base panel spanning said well, at least one inner wall extending upwardly from said base to adjacent the upper end of said outer wall, said inner Wall being spaced and parallel to said outer wall and defining a shoe carrying channel, a plurality of shoe hanging elements span ning said channel and a lid for said container, padding material secured to the inner surface of said outer wall, to said inner wall, to the inner surface of said base, and to the inner surface of said lid and a web secured to said length of elasticized cord and spanning same, said web having a heel engaging aperture adjacent the upper transverse length of said elastic cord.

6. The device according to claim 5 in which said shoe hanging elements comprise an elasticized cord spanning References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,571 11/1908 Stokely 22928 1,968,580 7/1934 Wheary '67 2,698,689 1/1955 Novack --16 3,039,599 6/ 1962 Mintz 206-7 3,048,262 8/1962 Pascuoci 190-16 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner. 

1. A SHOE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTION CONTAINER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL OUTER ENCLOSING WALL AND A BASE PANEL SPANNING SAID WALL, AT LEAST ONE CYLINDRICAL INNER WALL CONCENTRICALLY SITUATED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE TO ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID OUTER WALL, SAID OUTER WALL AND SAID INNER WALL DEFINING A SHOE CARRYING CHANNEL, A PLURALITY OF SHOE HANGING ELEMENTS SPANNING SAID CHANNEL AND A LID FOR SAIDCONTAINER, AND PADDING MATERIAL UPON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER WALL, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER WALL, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BASE, AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID LID. 